At forum on jail deaths, stories of abuse mix with calls for justice

Jim Commentucci / The Post-StandardRachel Smith, of Syracuse, spoke at Friday's forum on recent deaths at the Onondaga County Justice Center. Smith said her son, serving 20 years to life on charges of attempted murder, was unfairly treated by a system of "black robes and white justice."

Syracuse, NY -- Nearly 40 people attended a forum Friday night on the recent deaths at the Onondaga County Justice Center. Many complained of police abuse and demanded change.

Chuniece Patterson died in November while at the Justice Center from complications from an ectopic pregnancy. Aug. 6, Raul Pinet died at the Justice Center after being arrested by Syracuse police.

“We don’t want another tragedy,” said Luz Encarnacion, head of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens during the forum at ArtRage Gallery on Hawley Avenue.

The forum was organized by the ANSWER Coalition — which stands for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism — and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Emcee Bruce Peak denounced the “capitalist prison and police system,” adding, “racism is not the exception in the prison system, it is the rule.”

State University College at Oswego student Ashley Sauers called Patterson’s death “murder” and not an isolated incident. She told the story of Maparo Ramadhan. Not only was his arm broken while at the Justice Center, she said, but the bone was “completely sticking out of his skin.”

Derek Ford, another organizer, targeted Onondaga County Sheriff Walsh for part of his remarks. “We demand he be jailed,” Ford said.

Others told stories of everything from verbal abuse to beatings and shootings by police.

Rachel Smith, of Syracuse, said her son, Christopher Jamison, was shot by police in 2007. He was shot in the leg, the hand and the back, not in the shoulder as was reported, she said.

Jamison pleaded guilty to three counts of aggravated attempted murder in August 2007, telling the judge he tried to kill three Syracuse police officers. He was sentenced to 20 years to life.

Smith said her son was not treated fairly. “It’s black robes and white justice,” she said.

Yvette Henson, who identified herself as a retired investigator for the Syracuse Citizen Review Board, an organization created to look into reports of police abuses, said that it isn’t just African Americans who are mistreated. She said during her time with the CRB, there were increasing numbers of white people coming with “eyes blackened and bones broken.”

“It’s coming to you all too,” she said.

Organizers talked about putting together a march or protest or demonstration.

“I’m all for marching,” said Julius Edwards, former director of the Onondaga County Human Rights Commission, “but if change doesn’t happen, what’s the purpose?”

He said Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler needed people to support him. But Henson said that Fowler had been with the department for more than 20 years “in that system.”

Percy Bivins, pastor of Lighthouse of Love Church on South Avenue, said a march now would bring together blacks, whites and Hispanics and “bring an awareness to the neighborhood that something is being done.”

Encarnacion said there was a great deal of anger in the community and the system needed to be changed now, before violence escalated and a police officer was killed.

“No more deaths,” said Barrie Gewanter, director of the New York Civil Liberties Union Syracuse chapter, after the meeting.